there seem to be three groups of prospective users for slightly [or actually not so slightly - the outward differences are pretty significant] APS-C E-mount bodies,

each of them declaring different preferences, exactly like on these pics. above:

[a] keep the current N7-like form;

[b] give us a midget-DSLR;

or [c] we'd love that the new APS-C will be given A7-like shape = significantly bigger, but perhaps with a larger LCD and improved eye-relief optics for VF;

so the question is - not technically, as whatever would be possible to be tightly packed into the [a] should face no problems for redistribution of components into [b] or [c] - do they have the resources and logistics to deal with three distinct lines of APS-Cs??

And the political will to expand the market into diverging directions?? I think that logistics and marketing will be the key areas, but then I'm not a specialist

jpr2

Sony chose two, then three APS-C forms: Small (3/5), larger (6/7) and DSLR form (A3000). And now, there is another, with FF (A7/A7r). I would bet on two E-mount lines, as I have done before:Ax series: These would be NEX replacements, now also including FF.Axxxx series: Same as Ax series but with DSLR form.The Axxxx series will likely see lower emphasis unless demand necessitates. Ax series is guaranteed to continue the thin and tightly packed form. However, as I alluded to earlier, we will see three sizes: A7/A7r representing one (possibly to be followed by A9 at some point), NEX-6/7 replacement and NEX-3/5 replacement.I would bet against Sony reusing A7/7r body for 6/7 replacement. That leaves two possibilities:- 6/7 replacement continue the NEX-6/7 form which is larger than 3/5 body to accomodate EVF.- they go smaller to 3/5 body size but now the EVF would have to go in the middle as in A7.Either way, you're looking at at least three distinct bodies within Ax series.

Unfortunately very unlikely (but that never stops you saying these things)

How are Sony going to explain to their customers that FE-series lenses are to be used with the A7 and above, and E-series lenses with lower denominated Ax cameras?

When have you previously seen Sony use two different form factors in the same series? The SLT cameras were called Axx to differentiate themselves from the Axxx series OVF cameras

If Sony were planning to do as you suggest then the NEX-5T would have been released as the A5, or maybe the A3 if they planned an in-between high-end APS-C version. It wasn't... it was scheduled as the A5000 (indicating the Axxxx is the APS-C range) and then renamed back to NEX (indicating that the Axxxx range will not contain Rangefinder cameras)

Why do you continue to be clueless about choice of full frame and APSc lenses coexisting for a mount? Sony E-mount is no more of an exception (where FF lenses are to be identified as FE lenses) than Sony A-mount (where APSc lenses are identified as DT lenses) and Canon where FF lenses are identified as EF lenses and APSc by EFS. If anybody, it should be a disaster fir Canon as you van't freely use an EFS lens in EF body whereas you can do so with Sony's A as well as E mount.

Are you unaware that FE designation only identifies that the lens covers FF circle?